Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
August 20,  2001

Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM), a functional genomics company, today announced that it has developed a comprehensive DNA array for Magnaporthe grisea, a devastating fungal pathogen of rice.

The microarray contains thousands of annotated Magnaporthe gene sequences and positive and negatives controls useful in data analysis. It was manufactured by Agilent Technologies exclusively for Paradigm using proprietary gene sequence information. The chip will allow Paradigm to do the most complete analysis of global gene expression in a filamentous fungus (mold) to date. The resulting data will be integrated into the wealth of information the company currently has for fungal organisms and may be useful for fungicide product discovery and development.

"The new array is a dramatic improvement over our early generation chip. It contains more annotated fungal genes and represents more biochemical pathways than any fungal DNA microarray available to date," said Jeff Shuster, Ph.D., Director of Microbial Research for Paradigm Genetics. "It is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to discover novel targets, characterize new fungicidal chemistries, and develop novel antifungal compounds." Paradigm's gene expression work with Magnaporthe began in June 1998 with a Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research grant awarded to Paradigm.

About Paradigm Genetics

Located in Research Triangle Park, NC, Paradigm Genetics, Inc. is industrializing the process of gene function discovery for four major sectors of the global economy: human health, nutrition, crop production, and industrial products. The company has designed the GeneFunction Factory(TM) -- an integrated, rapid, industrial-scale laboratory through which it discovers gene function. Paradigm and its strategic partners intend to develop novel products using information developed with the GeneFunction Factory(TM). Paradigm's GeneFunction Factory(TM) is based on a state-of-the-art phenomics platform integrated with metabolic profiling and gene expression profiling technologies. The backbone of the GeneFunction Factory(TM) is the company's proprietary FunctionFinder(TM) bioinformatics system, used to collect, store, analyze and retrieve information. For more information, visit www.paradigmgenetics.com. 

GeneFunction Factory(TM) and FunctionFinder(TM) are U.S. trademarks of Paradigm Genetics, Inc.

Company news release
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